Early the next morning, the chirping of seagulls woke up the sleeping internship ship.
The sun penetrated the mist and sprinkled on the deck. The mess left by last night's carnival had already been cleaned up by the diligent navy soldiers.
The internship ship set sail again and headed deeper into New World.
Five days later.
"Report! A naval training ship has been spotted ahead! It's heading towards us!"
Members of the patrol boat Whitebeard Pirates issued a rapid alarm through Den Den Mushi.
On the deck of the huge whale ship Moby Dick, the Whitebeard Pirates captains who were lying or sitting, drinking or wiping their weapons all moved in unison.
The air solidified in an instant.
"Navy training ship?"
The captain of the first team, Marco, put away the newspaper he was reading, turned into a blue flame and rose into the sky, landed on the bow of the ship, and raised his telescope.
After a while, he landed back on the deck, and for the first time, his face, which was always sleepy, looked solemn as never before.
"This is the training ship led by Akira."
"What?!"
"What is he doing here?!"
There was an instant explosion on the deck.
Whitebeard Edward·Newgate put down the huge wine bowl in his hand, and finally a wave of emotion appeared in his eyes that could see through the world.
"Akira?" He read the name slowly.
"Dad!" Vista the Flower Sword pressed the hilt of his sword, his eyes sharp, "He dared to break into our territory with only one training ship. This is a naked provocation!"
"That's right!" Diamond Jozu echoed in a loud voice, crossing his arms in front of his chest, making a muffled sound like metal collision, "We must give him some clues to let him know whose territory this is!"
"Calm down, everyone!" Marco frowned and stopped the captains who were about to make a move, "Akira came here at this time, not necessarily to fight us, but maybe for other purposes!"
"What purpose can it have?" a captain couldn't help shouting, "Akainu and Aokiji blocked the two main channels of New World, and now he personally leads the team here, making it clear that he wants to kill us all!"
"Then fight!"
"That's right! Let him never come back!"
The captains are excited and have high fighting spirit. As members of Whitebeard, the pirate group led by World's Strongest Man, they have their own pride. Even if they are facing Navy Marshal, who is now in full swing, they will never give up without a fight.
Just when the atmosphere on the deck was tense and the war was about to break out.
The watchman's Den Den Mushi sounded again, his voice full of confusion.
"Report! The naval training ship suddenly turned! They did not come towards Moby Dick, but towards Flame Island!"
"Huh?"
Everyone on the deck was stunned.
What kind of operation is this? They all broke into Whitebeard Pirates's territory, but they didn't even say hello and just turned around and went to another island?
"Flame Island?" Marco looked at Whitebeard, "Dad, what is he doing there?"
Whitebeard was silent for a moment, seeming to be recalling something.
"If I remember correctly," he said slowly, "Tomorrow is Land of Fire's annual Flame Festival."
Flame Festival?
Several of the captains looked at each other.
A captain stood up and explained, "I know this place because the people on the island have used flames as their totem since ancient times. The country on the island was also named "Land of Fire"."
"Land of Fire was not World Government Member States before. It was not until Reverie submitted its application for joining last time. However, due to rules, their king and royal family are not eligible to move to Holy Land."
"The king didn't care at all. Instead, he went to Wano Country himself, asked Crocodile for advice on how to govern the country, and successfully copied the Wano Country model. Because of his high reputation among the people, he was eventually successfully elected as the first mayor of Land of Fire."
"Of course these are not important. What is important is that Marco is right, his target is not us, but Land of Fire!"
"So he took the interns to Land of Fire to participate in Flame Festival?"
"Having said that, are we a little too nervous? It feels like after Akira entered New World, we all became frightened and always paid attention to his movements inadvertently!"
"Nonsense, he is Navy Marshal, the toughest, youngest and most powerful Marshal in the history of the Navy!"
At the same time, Flame Island, Land of Fire.
The entire island is immersed in a festive and carnival atmosphere.
The streets in the main city have long been cleared, and at regular intervals, huge torches made of a special kind of wood called "Iron Fire Wood" are erected. Children have totems of flames painted on their faces, chasing and playing in the streets holding small torches, and the air is filled with the aroma of barbecue and wine.
The crowded Square of Fire.
Land of Fire's first mayor, who was also the former king, was standing on the high platform in the center. He picked up the microphone he had prepared long ago, and his loud voice spread throughout the square.
"Dear citizens! I just received some great news!"
"Marine Headquarters Marshal, World Government The naval training ship led by the Supreme Power, Lord Akira, is about to arrive at our port! He will celebrate this year's Flame Festival with us!"
Boom!
The whole square was boiling instantly!
Cheers and screams merged into a huge sound wave that almost overturned the clouds in the sky.
In the crowd, countless young women flushed with excitement.
"Oh my God! Did I hear it correctly? It's Lord Akira who is coming!"
"Finally I can see a real person! I must go to the port to greet him!"
A woman with a hot body and elegantly dressed put her hands on her hips and loudly announced to the surrounding "competitors": "Akira is mine! Don't rob me of any of you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a beautiful woman wearing a gorgeous dress sneered disdainfully, "You look like a prodigal? How could Lord Marshal like you! When Flame Festival is over, Lord Marshal will definitely wake up from my bed!"
"What are you doing here? Hurry and go to the port to meet Mr. Akira!"
The internship ship slowly sailed into the port of Land of Fire.
Before the ship had completely docked, the interns on the deck were stunned by the sight in front of them.
The entire port was filled with people, so densely packed that one could not even see the end of the port.
When the figure of Akira appeared on the bow of the ship, the crowd burst into roars like a mountain roar and a tsunami.
"Lord Marshal--"
"Akira-sama--"
Thousands of voices gathered together, among which the screams of women were the most piercing.
The young men at the port heard the enthusiastic shouts of the women around them, and an inexplicable desire to compete suddenly surged in their hearts.
"Why are you shouting? The voice is so small! Listen to me!"
A young man shouted with all his strength, "Lord Marshal--"
His voice was like lighting a powder keg.
Not to be outdone, the men around him started shouting.
For a moment, the men and women seemed to be competing. The shouts became louder and louder, causing ripples to appear on the sea surface.
On the internship ship, a group of interns headed by Usopp were also infected by the fanatical atmosphere, and they cheered together.
"Lord Marshal!"
"Lord Marshal!"
Only Luffy looked confused, tilted his head and asked curiously, "What's going on? Why are there so many people at the port?"
"Idiot!" Nami knocked his head angrily, "Didn't you listen to what Captain Morgan said? This is Land of Fire, and there will be a grand Flame Festival event tomorrow!"
"Flame Festival?"
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly, shining with excitement.
He jumped onto the side of the ship, opened his arms, and faced the thundering cheers, shouting excitedly, "Flame King! I'm determined!"
--